They have all achieved – and all have dreams…

OWN CORRESPONDENT

Pictured: Guy Elad… accepted for actuarial science.

The sky is (literally) the limit for Kevin Simon, who matriculated from King David High School Linksfield; his aim is to be a commercial pilot.

Passing all seven of his matric subjects – Afrikaans, English, Geography, History, Life Orientation, Maths and Physical Science – was a major achievement for him after being part of the KDHSL educational support programme from grade 1 to grade 10.

He says he found grade 11 difficult and “really battled”, but he passed and went on to obtain a good matric result, including a distinction in Life Orientation.

His objective in 2016 is “to learn to fly, get my pilot’s licence and achieve my dream”.

He will be training part-time for his licence at the pilots’ school at Lanseria Airport.

His followed his passion for flying during his school years and started training as a pilot two years ago.

“There have been hiccups along the way, with a few nausea problems,” he said. “I kept getting sick when trying to do certain things.”

He hopes to overcome the occasional bouts of nausea and eventually become an airline pilot.

This year he wants to go to university to study computer science (he has applied to the University of Johannesburg), or to get a part-time job, “anything to do with aviation”.

One of the aviation possibilities is training to be an air traffic controller at the Air Traffic and Navigation Services, which is responsible for running South Africa’s air traffic control systems.

His second passion is photography, “anything and everything”, he says. He combined his two main interests when he won a competition in 2014 taking pictures at an air show.

Guy Elad matriculated from Crawford College with seven distinctions in spite of being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder at the age of five, spending over half his school career outside a mainstream school.

He obtained 100 per cent for maths, over 90 per cent in advanced maths, physical science, life orientation and accountancy and over 80 per cent in geography and IT.

He was initially placed at Crossroads School, which caters for bright children who have a learning challenge, where he remained for seven years. He then attended high school at Crawford College after much dedication and perseverance.

He received full academic colours in grade 10 and 11 and was given awards for geography, maths and advanced maths in grade 12.

He says he lives by three mantras: If you can dream it, you can do it; do not give up and always try harder; and your success is your greatest asset.

He has been accepted to study actuarial science.

A total all-rounder is how one best describes Jason Smith, vice-head boy at Herzlia High School, and winner of the award at the school prize-giving in this category.

After obtaining an A-aggregate in his matric exams, he is going to study business science, finance and accounting at the University of Cape Town.

He has a wide range of interests, ranging from being a DJ to playing sport.

He works as a DJ at any type of event, from bar- and batmitzvahs, weddings and home parties to clubs – mainly for under 18s.

“At the moment it is a great extra side thing I am doing with my partner. It is a fun thing.”

He plays several sports, loves the sea, the beach, wave boarding and water sports.

He was not only a first-team swimmer at school, but competed at the South African national youth championships.

He also played first-team water polo. Other sports he enjoys are table tennis and golf, where he plays off a 14 handicap.

He says he will carry on swimming, although perhaps not competitively, and will continue to play golf.

He also acted in school productions and played the guitar. He played lead roles and wrote and directed his own award-winning one-act play, “Stairway to Heaven”, about romance in an aged home. But he doubts whether he will carry on with his writing.

He is optimistic about the future of South Africa. “Although there are problems, hopefully the future will be good for us.”

“I am happy to stay here and study and see where it takes me after that.”

Gabriella (Gabi) Setzer, who achieved a full house of eight distinctions at Torah Academy Girls’ High School, has devoted the time since her exams to more learning.

She has been attending the Neveh Yerushalayim seminary in Israel for observant girls. She was placed at a level known as shalhevet, where girls, usually frum from their childhood, can develop their Yiddishkeit further.

Back in South Africa, she says, “I want to come and learn”.

She obtained distinctions in English, Afrikaans, Life Orientation, Maths, Life Sciences, Physical Science, History and Hebrew.

“I worked hard throughout the entire year,” she says.

“Obtaining distinctions in all my subjects was always my goal, but the exams were tough and I wasn’t sure. I am so grateful to Hashem that I did.”

She will be studying occupational therapy at Wits this year and after her studies she plans to make aliyah.